Review of Still Wakes The Deep – a body horror game from The Chinese Room in the vein of The Thing

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The Chinese Room studio played a key role in the popularity of walking simulators. In 2008, they released the Dear Esther modification for Half-Life 2, which marked the beginning of a new genre. From this point on, games began to actively incorporate elements focused on narrative and atmospheric experiences, with an emphasis on text, environments, and minimal puzzles. This simplified the creation of such games, leading to their widespread adoption and development.

The studio has developed standalone projects such as Dear Esther, Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs, and Everybody's Gone to the Rapture. These games are walking simulators with minimal gameplay elements focused on exploration and narrative.

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All games from the studio, for With the exception of the platformer Little Orpheus, they are deeply philosophical, and their meaning can be difficult to pin down. Enigmatic narrative, particularly thanks to Dear Esther, has become a hallmark of the genre. Walking simulators truly require careful attention to detail in the game to connect the dots and parse metaphors. This creates a unique experience that appeals to players who seek meaning and interpretation. Still Wakes The Deep offers players a linear yet engaging experience. This game isn't a simple walking simulator—it offers varied gameplay despite its focus on story. The game's creators even added an element of irony: players can earn the "Walking Simulator" achievement if they prefer slow walking to running.

Terrifying events unfold on an oil rig. The drill collides with a mysterious object on the ocean floor, leading to horrific consequences: the workers lose their minds and transform into monsters. The film clearly draws inspiration from John Carpenter's The Thing, offering viewers a similar level of body horror that delves into the very essence of human nature and the fear of the unknown. The horrors that emerge on the platform highlight the dark and disturbing aspects of humanity's interactions with nature and the uncharted depths of the ocean.

Most workers turn into ruthless creatures, but some begin to hunt those who escaped an encounter with the living substance from the depths. Apparently, after the transformation, the monsters retain fragmented memories, which makes them even more terrifying. They groan, howl, curse, and beg for help, trying to restrain those passing by. The protagonist, an electrician named Kaz, one day notices that, despite their horrific appearance, they are still human, victims of dreadful changes. This fine line between humanity and monstrous instincts creates an atmosphere of horror and makes one wonder what could happen to any of us.

In one of the most memorable scenes, the protagonist encounters a former colleague who has found himself in a terrible state—sprawled on the floor of an office, his body disfigured by bubbles and tentacles, and oozing a disgusting pus. The protagonist repeatedly approaches the phone located next to this unbearable spectacle to receive instructions on how to operate the systems. At such moments, one feels the urge to turn away and look at the floor, so as not to see his suffering: he is still alive, emitting weak wheezing and trying to move. This episode highlights the brutality of the situation and the inner struggle of the hero, who is forced to combine his work with watching his friend suffer.

Everything related to the design of creatures, their behavior and sound effects in the game Still Wakes The Deep is executed to the highest standard, typical of high-quality body horror games. The game impresses with its detailed and atmospheric settings, creating a unique sense of tension and fear.

The gameplay during monster encounters isn't particularly original. The player is asked to either simply run away from opponents or hide behind cover and distract them with sound effects. Direct encounters with monsters are limited, preventing the game's limited mechanics from quickly becoming tiring.

Environmental issues remain. The oil refinery platform is a unique location in games that is not often used and provides an opportunity to explore its features. However, this approach has its drawbacks: the internal elements of the platform do not feature a variety of visual solutions, which can affect the gaming experience.

Kazu often faces the need for repairs, which forces him to explore the most secluded corners of the complex. The platform is in a neglected state, and the hero will have to crawl, climb, and jump a lot to cope with the problems that arise. In addition, he will have to spend some time underwater, which adds complexity to the game mechanics. Water levels often do not generate enthusiasm among players, but this is precisely what makes Kazu's adventure unique and memorable. Each new challenge in the game emphasizes the importance of skill and strategic thinking.

The game offers a duration of about five hours, which allows you to avoid fatigue from the game environment and limited gameplay. As with most of the studio's other projects, the key aspects are atmosphere, plot, and dialogue, which are all executed to a high standard. This makes the game appealing to fans of engaging stories and quality narrative.

Still Wakes The Deep is a chamber horror game that recreates the atmosphere of classic films such as Virus and The Thing. The story unfolds in a limited location where a catastrophe occurs, and the protagonist strives to save others, while trying to survive. Unlike The Chinese Room's previous works, this game lacks metaphors and deep subtext, making it more straightforward and accessible.

How acceptable is this? We are looking forward to the release of Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2, a game based on a popular universe that seems to offer no deeper meaning. It seems that after laying off almost the entire staff and threatening to close in 2017, The Chinese Room has undergone significant changes. Instead of the magic that previously distinguished her projects, gameplay is taking center stage, but its implementation is still proving challenging for developers.

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